RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The Yelp Foundation was set up to help organizations that educate the community or support economic development and technology. The organization recently distributed $750,000 to 75 communities across the U.S., including Reno. A DONATION OF $10,000 was split among three different groups: NCET, Assistance League of Reno-Sparks, and Northern Nevada Literacy Council. Yelp Community Manager Michael Tragash says that Reno being among the cities that were selected is a huge honor.
NCET helps people understand how different forms of technology work. The group hosts nearly 50 events every year to show adults the various ways technology is used. President and CEO Dave Archer says that now they’re hoping to open the program up to kids and teens.”As an employee of Yelp, it’s really exciting to see them putting forth this kind of effort to support our local community. These organizations that the Yelp Foundation has selected to receive these funds are very worthy organizations doing very noble things here in Reno,” he says.
“With this grant we’re going to expand into K-12, primarily in high school. There’s a lot of work being done with STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math), and we want to reach out and engage high school students in a lot of the things we do,” he says.
Assistance League of Reno-Sparks helps children, seniors and veterans with a number of services. They provide clothes and backpacks to students in need, help teachers pay for classroom supplies, and deliver food and groceries to over 400 seniors. the organization’s president, Clyda Anderson, says the Yelp Foundation grant will go a long way.
“We have a 91% return on our donated money. So, all of that $3,000 will go into our programs,” she says.
The Northern Nevada Literacy Council helps educate adults who have dropped out of high school. Last year, nearly a thousand people ranging in age from 25 to 54 were able to earn their high school equivalency thanks to the program. Executive Director Susan Robinson says she hopes the organization can extend its reach.
“The monies that we receive will help us to expand to do other sites where we can provide classes. We have scholarship programs for students. Our classes are free, but we can help them pay for the test that they have to take to get their high school equivalency,” she says.
There was public voting to determine how much money each group would receive. NCET took 1st place and was awarded $5,000, Assistance League of Reno-Sparks received $3,000, and Northern Nevada Literacy Council got the remaining $2,000.
